INDIA’s tourism minister Subodh Kant Sahai revealed last week that an outlay of 10 billion rupees (US$200 million) would be allocated for building 20 tourism parks across the country.

Envisaged along the lines of Singapore’s Sentosa island and Cancun in Mexico, each tourism park, built on 50 acres (20 hectares) of land, would comprise of entertainment and sports facilities, F&B outlets, hotels, restaurants and venues for cultural festivals.

The parks are expected to be joint partnerships between private investors and the government, whose role will be to facilitate connectivity and infrastructure.

An initial investment of US$10 million per park will be allocated by the central government, with the rest of the startup funding sourced from the respective state governments and private sector partners.

“Indian tourism is looking bullish”, said Vijay Thakur, president, Indian Association of Tour Operators. “In order to attract more foreign tourists, we need to evolve, constantly upgrade existing facilities, offer new products and develop infrastructure.”

INDONESIA’s Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Mari Elka Pangestu, is optimistic that the country will achieve its target of 7.7 million overseas arrivals this year, despite the economic turmoil in Europe and the US.

Pangestu was quoted by Antara News during a recent visit to the Benoa Marina project as saying that some promotional efforts would be diverted to more promising source markets.

“We are putting more focus on countries with positive economic growth, and offering interesting products such as cruising,” she said.

Speaking to TTG Asia e-Daily on a separate occasion, Pangestu said ASEAN member countries, China and India were some of the markets that Indonesia could still rely on for growth.

“We should not forget to also focus on the domestic market, encouraging Indonesians to visit other provinces in the county,” she added.

Meanwhile, Pangetsu’s office has set aside an annual budget of between two (US$220,000) to four billion rupiah to promote the country’s cruise potential. Current marketing efforts include participating at overseas shows such as The Diving Equipment & Marketing Association show in Miami.

SHERATON Hangzhou Wetland Park Resort, which opened last month in Xixi National Wetland Park (TTG Asia e-Daily, November 25), is gearing itself for MICE business.

MICE faclities at the 380-key property include an independent 1,946m2 conference centre, nine meeting rooms, a pillarless ballroom for a 600-pax banquet, and an outdoor pre-function area for 1,000 pax.

The hotel is located within Westbrook Resort, an integrated complex which features various restaurants and bars, more than 160 retail and commercial outlets, a theatre and a museum, as well as five other hotels including Banyan Tree Hangzhou.

General manager Colin Vickers said: “We are the only resort in Hangzhou featuring a large outdoor venue, which is the perfect place for a pre-event cocktail.”

“With our outdoor venues, the guest experience combines well with the extension of the Xixi Wetlands right up to the hotel itself. The option of having a tranquil location after a busy day aids our guests’ overall relaxation.”

According to Vickers, global and local companies have already booked meeting space at the hotel, and business is looking strong from December through the first quarter of 2012.

Meanwhile, Sheraton Hangzhou Wetland Park Resort is offering introductory rates valid till February 29, 2012. Full-day meeting packages start from RMB550 (US$86.5) per person and half-day packages start from RMB450 per person. Accommodation rates start from RMB1,000 per room per night.

By Patricia Wee

SINGAPORE Airlines’ new medium- and longhaul low-cost subsidiary Scoot has unveiled Sydney as its inaugural destination.

Scoot, which will operate out of Changi International Airport’s Terminal 2, will offer a daily service to and from Sydney when it takes flight in June next year.

With the launch of its first-ever route, Scoot will become the only budget carrier offering direct flights from Singapore to the capital of New South Wales, with competitors such as Jetstar and AirAsia X choosing to fly to other Australian destinations.

“Scoot’s decision to fly its first service between Sydney and Singapore from mid-2012 is fantastic news,” said Barry O’Farrell, premier of New South Wales.

“This is a significant step towards our goal of doubling tourism expenditure by 2020, placing Sydney front and centre of the boom in budget travel in emerging markets like Singapore, China and India.”

According to a report in Channel NewsAsia, Scoot’s choice of Sydney as its initial destination was the result of an alliance between Destination New South Wales (NSW) and Sydney Airport to promote Sydney to new airlines and compete for new routes.

As part of the agreement, Destination NSW will be also be working with Scoot, Sydney Airport and Tourism Australia on a two-year joint marketing initiative to promote the new route.

EVENT specialist Pacific World has consolidated its worldwide operations under a single brand umbrella as part of its ongoing global expansion.

The move will see its agencies in Europe and India, specifically Ultramar in Spain, TravelScotWorld in Scotland, TUI Hellas Corporate Services in Greece, Miltours in Portugal and Integrated Conference & Event Management and Mintcentives in India, being rebranded under the Pacific World banner.

With the addition of the aforementioned MICE agencies, Pacific World will now operate in 13 countries and over 30 destinations, compared to eight countries in Asia-Pacific previously.

Speaking to TTG Asia e-Daily, Manuel Ferrer, regional director South-east Asia of Pacific World, said: “Pacific World has been largely an Asian company, one that has built a strong reputation for delivering outstanding customer care and for being best in class in onsite operations. That is the identity of Pacific World for the past 30 years, and we must keep that and bring that reputation to Europe and North America.”

A fresh logo that resembles a key, and a new tagline – opening up perspectives – has also been adopted. The revamped corporate identity will be reflected in all marketing collaterals and Pacific World’s corporate booths at trade shows.

“We unveiled the new corporate look at EIBTM in Barcelona this week, and many business partners and even friendly competitors came by to say they loved it,” said Ferrer, adding that the group was also planning to sharpen its congress organisation and special events capabilities, and expand into destinations it does not already have a presence in.

Ferrer explained that while Pacific World had honed its expertise in destination management, the group “has also achieved excellence in PCO and special events capability in some destinations”, specifically capital cities where congresses often gather.

PHILIPPINE-based low-cost carrier Zest Air is making a major push into mainland China and South Korea.

Beginning December 12, Zest Air will operate from Chengdu to Kalibo every five days, with the return sector being operated on a similar frequency starting December 16. A thrice-weekly Manila-Jinjiang service will be launched starting December 22.

In South Korea, the carrier will operate twice-weekly Cebu-Muan services from December 29 to January 26, twice-weekly Cebu-Cheongju flights from December 31 to February 4, and twice-weekly Bacolod-Seoul (Incheon) services from January 4 to February 22.

All these flights will be operated using the airline’s 168-seater Airbus A320 aircraft.

THE PARENT company of American Airlines Inc. (AA), AMR Corporation, yesterday filed voluntary petitions for bankruptcy protection in the US, citing the need to achieve industry competitiveness.

“AMR’s board of directors determined that a Chapter 11 reorganisation is in the best interest of the company and its stakeholders. Just as with the company’s major airline competitors in recent years, the Chapter 11 process enables American Airlines and American Eagle to continue conducting normal business operations while they restructure their debt, costs and other obligations,” it stated in a press release.

It would be business as usual for the airlines during the Chapter 11 process, including flights, services, tickets and reservations, frequent flier programmes, and payment for suppliers, among others.

Thomas W. Horton, chairman, chief executive officer and president of AMR and American Airlines, said: “This was a difficult decision, but it is the necessary and right path for us to take – and take now – to become a more efficient, financially stronger, and competitive airline.”

He added: “But as we have made clear with increasing urgency in recent weeks, we must address our cost structure, including labor costs, to enable us to capitalise on these foundational strengths and secure our future. Our very substantial cost disadvantage compared to our larger competitors, all of which restructured their costs and debt through Chapter 11, has become increasingly untenable given the accelerating impact of global economic uncertainty and resulting revenue instability, volatile and rising fuel prices, and intensifying competitive challenges.”

AMR said that it has approximately US$4.1 billion in unrestricted cash and short-term investments and that it would be more than enough to pay for goods and services during the Chapter 11 process.

In a separate announcement, AMR Corporation’s board of directors appointed Horton chairman and chief executive officer of the company, succeeding Gerard Arpey, who is retiring. He will also succeed Arpey as chairman and CEO of AA and will retain the title of president.

HILTON Worldwide signed an agreement with Les Roches Jin Jiang International Hotel Management College (LRJJ) in China for a Hilton Class programme that will offer workplace training and other curricula for students.

“The Hilton Class program is part of our commitment to extend and deepen our presence in China. We believe it will not only benefit the industry, but also provide Hilton Worldwide access to best-in-class talent to support our ambitious goal of expanding from the current over 20 to more than 100 hotels over the next five years,” said Dave Osborne, senior vice president, HR Operations and Development, Hilton Worldwide.

The Hilton Class is said to be a groundbreaking collaboration between an industry player and a higher education institution for students to have the best of theoretical learning and workplace training.

Under the partnership, Hitlon Worldwide and LRJJ will select 20 top first-year students every year. Each will be offered three full-time internships at Hilton Worldwide’s managed properties throughout their course, gaining 18 months of training.

In addition, Hilton Worldwide will organise guest lectures, on-site visits and e-learning programs to prepare the students for the workplace. Students could also potentially secure job offers with the chain upon graduation.

THE Colombo-Tuticorin passenger ferry service between Sri Lanka and India, started with much promise in June (TTG Asia e-Daily, June 20, 2011), was suspended indefinitely on November 22 due to being economically unviable.

The service was operated twice a week by India-based Flamingo Liners using the Scotia Princess ship with a capacity of 1,000 passengers. The trip took 14 hours and was the first ferry service between the two countries in more than four decades.

Sunil Obadage, general manager of the state-owned Ceylon Shipping Corporation, the general sales agent in Colombo for the ship operator, said that the operator did not give any reason for the suspension. “However, with only an average of 150 passengers per journey, (we felt that) it was uneconomical for the operator,” he said.

The service was launched under a bilateral agreement between India and Sri Lanka. India is Sri Lanka’s biggest source market for tourists, but even though the fare was cheaper than an airline ticket, it only drew a few passengers.

Obadage said tickets cost Rs12,210 (US$107.20) per round-trip, half the price of airfare from the closest destination in India to Colombo.

S. Jaufer, managing director of Arugam Bay Travels, one of the local travel consultants promoting the service, said he was surprised by the suspension, since there were some 800 passengers lined up for travel in December. “The service has not gotten enough promotion, and Flamingo had promised to update the facilities on board and also launch a new promotion campaign,” he said.

THE THAI Hotels Association (THA) is collaborating with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to launch a 1+1 tactical to help stimulate bookings from December 15 to January 15 following the flood crisis in the country.

THA president, Prakit Chinamourphong, said the scheme aims to jumpstart market interest and counter sluggish bookings for December. Hotels nationwide have reported seeing only 30 per cent in bookings compared to the usual 65 per cent to 70 per cent during this period.

He said the flooding that affected parts of the country had an impact on travellers’ confidence, and the special promotion would help stimulate interest. “We hope the 1+1 special promotion will generate 20-30 per cent extra business during the one-month promotional period,” Prakit said.

THA expects about 50 per cent of its hotel members – about 800 in total – to participate in the scheme. It is hoping to have all the detains in place by December 10. The promotion will be launched through TAT’s 26 overseas offices.

“Our key targets are FITs from shorthaul markets,” said Prakit.

In addition, THA will be proposing that the Thai government offer relief measures for hotels affected by the floods in the form of stimulus loans and tax incentives, among others.

By Sirima Eamtako